Whistle/squeal with throttle when cold

[nmcnulty]

Hey everyone..my first post here. I have a 2002 Intrepid ES with the 3.5L. There's 79k on the engine/trans. Everything has run smooth since I bought her in October of '04, but when it started getting colder and colder this winter in Indiana, I noticed a screaming noise. If she sits for more than about 4 hours, and the outside temp is under 40 degrees, the scream comes out. I hear it inside with the windows up, but if they are down its alot louder outside the car, obviously, and is somewhat consistent with the gas pedal. If I go real easy on it, it will not happen, but the harder I push the gas, the louder and longer the scream. If I push REAL good on the pedal, it stops until I gain a little more speed, then it starts a new "series" of screaming.....this is wild and I have never heard of this kind of noise on any of my past cars. The first time I heard it, my reaction was the heater blower motor, but I don't think that's it. Second was a belt...there's 2 belts and they look good& tight. So if anyone has any ideas/fixes--throw 'em this way. Thanks everyone.......

[AWP9521]

Look for a disconnected Vacuum hose or the air supply hose for the IAC Motor, it may have come off or is cracked. If the engine has a low speed miss you might want to check for leakage on the Intake Manifold gaskets or the Injector Rail Gaskets.

[nmcnulty]

Originally Posted by AWP9521

Look for a disconnected Vacuum hose or the air supply hose for the IAC Motor, it may have come off or is cracked. If the engine has a low speed miss you might want to check for leakage on the Intake Manifold gaskets or the Injector Rail Gaskets.

There is no missing or performance issue though. It has plenty of power and it seems there are no other symptoms other than this noise. If it was missing or acting funny, vacuum would be the first place I'd look. thank you for your reply though.....is there anything else it could be??

[darren188]

i have a 03 intrepid, when its cold out i get a hollow wistle like the plastic pipe a child spin above his head. i bought the car new 10/02 it has always done it milesare now33,000

[cbeck]

Originally Posted by nmcnulty

There is no missing or performance issue though. It has plenty of power and it seems there are no other symptoms other than this noise. If it was missing or acting funny, vacuum would be the first place I'd look. thank you for your reply though.....is there anything else it could be??

I would still say it's a belt. Rubber is harder when it is cold and consequently easier to slip when you first start up. If the noise goes away after the car warms up, that is likely your problem.

You may be able to see the inside of the belt glazed, you may not. But it can still slip even though it apears tight. And once it's glazed, warming up might not make the noise go away.

could be your powersteering pump going out too, or just low on fluid, as I've heard them squeel before, Bad bearings on a water pump maybe as well?-though i've never heard a scream from that, just a clunck, then broken.